Baku is ready to receive Europe

13 Apr 2015 in 19:18

The lighting of the flame of the ‘Baku 2015’ European Games will be organized at the Ateshgah Fire Temple on April 26 in collaboration with the President of the European Olympic Committee, Patrick Hickey. The European Games that Baku will host in June will be the first in history. It is a historic event for both Azerbaijan and all of Europe. At the end of the previous week, the European Games were presented by Mehriban Aliyeva, the president of the Organizing Committee of the First European Games, a member of the Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, in Moscow.

“The success of our athletes, and the powerful support to sports from the government, the presence of modern sports infrastructure and, of course, the ambitious development of the country, became the basis for the decision by the European Olympic Committee to hold the First European Games in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku,” Mehriban Aliyeva stated.

In her words, the Games will open a new page in the history of European sports. Organizing and hosting the First European Games is a great honour and a great responsibility. The Games will be participated in by over 6,000 athletes competing in 20 types of sports, 16 of which are Olympic types. Naturally, the Baku Games will set a new level, a standard for the following Games. “Although we had only 2.5 years at our disposal to prepare, we aimed to hold the Games at the level of the Summer Olympic Games. Everything needed is being done for that. A very firm organizing committee was created. We cooperate with international sports organizations, with the European Olympic Committee, with international federations,” Aliyeva said.

Thousands of young people of Azerbaijan have volunteered for the Games. The construction of all the sports facilities has been completed, 35 tests will have been made by the start of the opening ceremony set for June 12.

“We are proud of the ‘village’ for our athletes. I am adamant that the Russian athletes will be pleased by living in the ‘village’, because we tried to create the utmost comfort for training and for resting. We are also proud of our media village. The structure was created exclusively for the accommodation of media officials, and it meets top world standards too. The Games will be covered by over a thousand reporters, both local and foreign. And over 50 companies will broadcast the Games in over a hundred countries,” the head of the organizing committee said.

The organizers want the guests of the Games to learn more about Azerbaijan. “Azerbaijan is young as an independent state. But the country has deep historical roots, a rich culture. Our capital, the city of Baku, is situated on the Great Silk Road, on the juncture of the West and the East. The city has absorbed the spirits of many cultures and civilizations. And we have tried to prepare a very vast and interesting cultural program… Now, when we have only two months left until the start of the games, our team is concentrated on the final preparations, but Baku can receive all Europe even now. We are all on the threshold of a grandiose festival of peace, friendship and sports. I am steadfast that the First European Games will be held in a spirit of solidarity, unity, healthy and fair competition,” Mehriban Aliyeva stated.

Speaking at the presentation of the European Games in Moscow, she did not leave the development of Russian-Azerbaijani ties without a mention. “The relations between our countries are based on a firm historical foundation. For decades, our peoples have been connected by humanitarian, cultural and human ties. And the ties have created a very favorable climate for the development of bilateral political, economic and interstate relations. In Azerbaijan, we pay great tribute to traditions and the historical past. And we believe that Russian-Azerbaijani relations today are an example of friendly, good-neighbourly relations based on mutual respect and interest,” Mehriban Aliyeva said.

The cooperation runs the gamut of social life – political, economic, humanitarian sectors. The visit of President Putin to Azerbaijan in the summer of 2013 gave a powerful impulse to the development of bilateral relations. Regular mutual visits of governmental and parliamentary delegations have become a tradition.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia is about 4 billion dollars.

Russia is one of the leaders in imports of Azerbaijani products.

Moscow and Baku are successfully cooperating within the framework of international organizations. Their positions coincide on many issues. Russia was one of the 155 countries who supported the election of Azerbaijan as a temporary member of the UN Security Council. The Azerbaijani delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously against forfeiting Russia’s right to vote and the implementation of economic sanctions. I would like to place special emphasis on our humanitarian ties, because culture and humanitarian ties are the basis for communication between people, between nations.

Since the restoration of independence, Russian-speaking education in Azerbaijan has been fully preserved. The country has over three hundred schools with classes in the Russian language, and the Slavic State University, a branch of Moscow State University. It has become one of the leading education centers in Azerbaijan. The Russian Drama Theater, the Russian Cultural Center are running. An indicator in the development of humanitarian ties between the two countries was the annual Baku Humanitarian Forum, initiated by the presidents, in which Azerbaijani and Russian political figures, experts, members of the scientific and art intelligentsia take part. The music festivals held in Azerbaijan, such as the Rostropovich and the Qabala Festivals, have become platforms where renowned Russian musicians with world names and leading music collectives of Russia make performances.

Mehriban Aliyeva noted the work of the Youth Organization of the Azerbaijanis of Russia: “The organization is relatively young, but it has united the Azerbaijani youth living and studying in Russia, and helped them in the process of integrating into Russian society.”

The head of the Organizing Committee of the European Games invited Russian athletes and spectators to Baku: “We will cheer for our athletes, for our teams together!”

Mehriban Aliyeva has invited Russians to the European Games: “We will be cheering for our athletes, for our teams together!”The lighting of the flame of the ‘Baku 2015’ European Games will be organized at the Ateshgah Fire Temple on April 26 in collaboration with the President of the European Olympic Committee, Patrick Hickey. The European Games that Baku will host in June will be the first in history. It is a historic event for both Azerbaijan and all of Europe. At the end of the previous week, the European Games were presented by Mehriban Aliyeva, the president of the Organizing Committee of the First European Games, a member of the Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, in Moscow.“The success of our athletes, and the powerful support to sports from the government, the presence of modern sports infrastructure and, of course, the ambitious development of the country, became the basis for the decision by the European Olympic Committee to hold the First European Games in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku,” Mehriban Aliyeva stated.In her words, the Games will open a new page in the history of European sports. Organizing and hosting the First European Games is a great honour and a great responsibility. The Games will be participated in by over 6,000 athletes competing in 20 types of sports, 16 of which are Olympic types. Naturally, the Baku Games will set a new level, a standard for the following Games. “Although we had only 2.5 years at our disposal to prepare, we aimed to hold the Games at the level of the Summer Olympic Games. Everything needed is being done for that. A very firm organizing committee was created. We cooperate with international sports organizations, with the European Olympic Committee, with international federations,” Aliyeva said.Thousands of young people of Azerbaijan have volunteered for the Games. The construction of all the sports facilities has been completed, 35 tests will have been made by the start of the opening ceremony set for Jun